Control means for automatic fraction collection apparatus



March 16, 1954 GQRHAM 2,672,271

CONTROL MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC FRACTION COLLECTION APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1950 IN VEN TOR. GEORGE GORHAM 4 TTORNEYS Patented Mar. 16, 1954 CONTROL MEANS FUR AUTOMATIC FRAC- TION COLLECTIQN APPARATUS George Goa-ham, New York, N. Y., assignor to Teclmicon Chromatography Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation Application April 13, 1950, Serial No. 155,687

31 Qlaims. 1

This invention relates. in general, to an automatic fraction-collection apparatus of the type disclosed and claimed in my prior applications Serial No. 772,339, filed September 5, 1947, new Patent Number 2,6052%, and Serial No. 12,130, filed February 23, 1943, now abandoned, as well as in my application Serial No. 156,282, filed April 1'7, 1950, and, in particular, to control means for operating said apparatus. This application is a continuation-in-part of said prior application Serial No. 12,130.

In my application Serial No. 772,389, now Pat ent No. 2,6042%, I disclosed an automatic fraction-co1lection apparatus operable under the control of a timing device in the form of a counter which operated in response to the passage of material from a supply source through a control de vice, provided with a photo-electric cell. and into the receptacles carried by said apparatus. Prcvision was also made for preventing the flow of said material into the receptacles in the event that the exciter lamp of the photo-electric cell did not operate. In my application Serial No. 12,130, I incorporated in the apparatus disclosed in my earlier application, time-elapsed control means for interrupting the supply of the substance to thereceptacles and for terminating the operation of the apparatus in the event of failure or defective operation of the control device, the counter, or of the motor utilized to intermittently rotate the receptacle carrier of said apparatus.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of automatic fraction-collection apparatus operable, selectively, under the control of means responsive to the passage of a substance to the receptacles thereof, or under the control of time-elapsed control means.

Another object is the provision of means for utilizing the time-elapsed control means, used to interrupt the supply of the substance to the receptacles, for controlling the operation of the automatic fraction-collection apparatus in place of the control means responsive to the passage of said substance to said receptacles.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of the electrical and electronic devices of an automatic fractioncollection apparatus embodying the present invention, various mechanical components of the apparatus being illustrated more or less diagrammatically; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus.

As fully illustrated and described in my prior application Serial No. 772,389, the automatic fraction-collection apparatus comprises a movable rack 10 on which a plurality of receptacles T are arranged in each of a plurality of laterally related rows, each of which extends in the direction oi movement of the rack. A control device 12, having a passage therethrough for the liquid or other substance which is to be supplied to said receptacles, is mounted for movement laterally of the receptacle-rows of the rack. The rack is moved step by step to carry each receptacle to a position at the outlet 13 of the control device for the supply of the substance to each receptacle. When the substance is to be supplied to more than one row of receptacles, the control device is moved automatically from one row to another. Indexing mechanisms, diagrammatically illustrated herein at M, are provided for predetermining the number of receptacles which are to be supplied with the substance, and means, including a timing device or counter 15, are provided for accurately determining and measuring the quantity of substance to be supplied to each of said predetermined number of receptacles. An electric motor I3 is utilized for actuating the rack-moving mechanism, diagrammatically illustrated herein at 20-, and for operating the indexing mechanisms M, after the latter have been manually adjusted or set to determine the number of receptacles to be supplied or charged with the substance, whereby the operation of the apparatus is terminated as soon asthe last receptacle is charged. Said indexing mechanisms operat a rotatable post 22 on which the control device is mounted for the automatic movement thereof. The motor is stationary during the time each receptacle is being charged and as soon as it has received its predetermined charge or quantity of the particular substance, the motor is operated, under the con trol of the timing device, to move the rack another step for presenting the next receptacle in position to receive its charge. The apparatus preferably includes means to interrupt the supply of the substance to any one of the receptacles in case the exciter lamp 24 for the photo-electric cell 28 of the control device I2 burns out, or is not illuminated, and also at the end of the predetermined number of rack movements as set by th indexing mechanism. For this purpose the control unit I2 is provided with a liquid intercepting device 28 carried thereby in position at the bottom thereof. Said liquid intercepting device is retained in it retracted position out of resistry with the liquid outlet i3 of control device 12 during the energization of solenoid 39, said solenoid being energized during normal operation of the apparatus and before the termination thereof. However, when the solenoid is de-energized, at the end of the operation of the apparatus, or due to a defective condition of exciter lamp 24, the device 2% is moved to its projected position in registry with the outlet of control device it for intercepting the fiow of liquid from said outlet to the receptacle T on the rack and for transmitting the intercepted liquid to a suitable collection receptacle.

In addition to the provision for interrupting the supply of liquid or other substance to the receptacles in the event that lamp 2d of the control unit i2 burns out, provision is also made, as fully illustrated and described in my prior application Serial No. 12,130, for interrupting the supply of liquid or other substance'to the receptacles and. to terminate the operation of the apparatus in the event of failure or defective operation of the photo-electric relay 32 or any other defect or failure resulting in the failure of the timer IE to operate, or in the event that the motor 28 does not operate to move the rack l after a predetermined rest interval of said support. For this purpose there is provided a time-elapsed control device for operating a time controlled switch connected in series with the main manually operated switch of the apparatus, said time controlled switch beinr opened by said time-elapsed control device after an adjustable predetermined length of time exceedin: the rest interval of rack it. Upon the opening of said time-controlled switch, the previously mentioned solenoid 3c is tie-energized and the liquid-intercepting device 28 is moved to its projected position to interrupt the supply of liquid to any one of the receptacles, thus preventing over-filling of such receptacle which might otherwise occur upon failure of the normal step movement of rack H).

The apparatus, in the form described in my prior applications, was specifically designed for use as a fraction collector in chromatographic analysis. See for example, Principles and Practice of Chromatography by Zechmeister and Cholnoky, translated by Bachrach and Robinson, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York.

In this particular use of the apparatus a liquidis passed through or in contact with an adsorbent substance of the column in a tube 34, according to known practice in the art of chromatography, and issues from the outlet of said tubedrop by drop, and similarly passes, drop by drop, through the passage of the above mentioned control device iZ. The photo-electric cell 726 is disposed in said control unit and is operable, in response to the intermittent interruption of light by said drops, to control the relay 32 which in turn controls the supply of electric pulses to the above mentioned counter l6 whereby to measure the quantity of liquid supplied to each of the recep-- tacles. It will be understood that the duration of the interval between two successive movements of the rack determ nes the quantity of liquid supplied to each receptacle, and that this interval of rest of the rack is controlled by the counter which, as explained above, controls the operation of the motor which moves the rack. The apparatus of the present invention was designed for similar use, and will be described with reference to said use thereof, but it w ll be understood that it may. be used for other purposes.

In the present invention, provision is made for utilizing a time-elapsed control device to interrupt the supply of liquid, or other substance, to the receptacles, in the event of faulty or defective operation of the apparatus while operating under the control of drop-counter control means, and provision is also made for alternatively operating the apparatus under time-elapsed control means, in place of said drop-counter means, said time-elapsed control means being constituted by said time-elapsed control device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the supply and control unit i2 is mounted on the vertical post 22 and turns with the latter about the vertical axis of said post in moving from one row of containers or receptacles T to each of said other rows. The liquid which is supplied to the receptacles issues from suitable supply container (not illustrated) and flows through a tube 3% of the column for treatment by a substance contained therein, depending upon the process for which the apparatus is to be used. From the outlet of the tube 3 the liquid flows intermittently, i. e., drop by drop, the drops being of the same volumetric size, into the funnel 36 carried by the control unit i2. The drops of liquid pass through a liquid passage in the control unit [2 located between the photo-electric cell 26 and the companion exciter lamp 24 mounted within the casing 38 of said control unit. As each drop of liquid passes across the path of light from the lamp 24 to the photoelectric cell 26, a relay 32, subsequently described, is operable under the control of said photo-electric cell, and mechanism, including motor i8 and gearing 20, operates under the control of said relay, after the predetermined drops of liquid are supplied to the test tube at the liquid receiving station, to turn the rack H! one step whereby to bring the next test tube into position at the liquid receiving station. More particularly, the passage of each drop of liquid between the photo-electric cell 29 and the exciter lamp '24 interrupts the lirht to the cell and initiates an electric impulse which is transmitted to the impulse counter mechanism 16 which is adjustable and may be'pre-set so as to automatically control the intermittent movement of rack it. Column tube 34 moves as a unit with control unit 12.

Rack in is turned intermittently in order to carry the liquid-receiving receptacles T successively to the liquid-receiving station S and allow sufiicient time for each receptacle at said station to receive a predetermined quantity or charge of liquid. After all of the receptacles in one row are supplied with the predetermined quantities of liquid, the control unit is moved automatically to the next row. In the apparatus which has already been constructed and operated pursuant to the present invention, there is provision for 50 test tubes in each of the four rows, or a total of 200 test tubes. The apparatus may be set so as to supply a predetermined quantity of liquid to all of the 200 test tubes or to any predeter mined smaller number of test tubes, according to requirements.

Rack [0 is mounted for turning movement within the housing 40. The mechanism for turning the rack comprises the reduction gearing, diagrammatically illustrated herein at 20 and fully illustrated and described in my priorapplication, operatively connected to a shaft,

illustrated diagrammatically at 42, actuated by an electric motor [8. Switch-operating mechanism, here shown as cams 44 and 46, are fixed to and rotated by shaft 42 for momentarily closing the normally open switch 48 and for operating the movable contact 50 of switch 52 to move the latter out of normal engagement with the fixed contact 54 thereof and into engagement with the fixed contact 56 thereof which is connected to motor 18. Said switches are preferably of the micro-switch type, but may be of any other type, and each includes a pin 58 which is engaged by the cams 44 and 46, respectively, for

momentarily operating said switches, as de scribed. These switches cooperate with other devices hereinafter described for controlling the operation of motor IS. The arrangement and relation between the parts of the motor-operated mechanism is such that shaft 42 makes only one revolution during each operation of the motor under the control of switches 48 and 52 and the associated control devices hereinafter to be described in detail. It will be understood that the operation of motor I8 is such as to operate gearing to turn the rack precisely the angular distance required to bring the liquid-receiving receptacles T in succession, in each row, to the liquid-receiving station S at which control unit I2 is positioned, so that during the successive movements of the rack all of the liquid-receiving receptacles of each row are presented at the liquid-receiving station, in succession, and are there held for a sufficient length of time to receive therein a predetermined, measured quantity of liquid.

It is apparent from the above description that when the rate of flow of liquid through the control unit is adjusted'so that said rate of flow is uniformly constant, the quantity of liquid which is supplied to each receptacle is determined by the length of time during which that particular receptacle is held stationary in position under the liquid outlet of the control unit and this length of time is the same as the duration of the period during which the rack is stationary, that is, the length of time between two successive operations of motor l8. This length of time may be predetermined by any suitable timing device but in the present instance, in view of the drop-by-drop supply of liquid, a timing device of the type which operates as a drop counter is utilized. This timing device, indicated at I6, is mounted on control panel 60 and has a suitably calibrated dial and a time-adjusting knob 62. The timing device or counter may be of any suitable type, and since it is not in itself part of the present invention it is not herein described specifically, but certain parts thereof are hereinafter referred to in explaning the operation of the apparatus. The counter or timing device utilized in the apparatus as actually constructed and operated is an instantaneous reset counter of the type described in U. S. Patent No. 2,329,447 and was supplied by Eagle Signal Corporation, Moline, Illinois. When a start switch, in this case switch 98, is closed, a clutch coil, i. e., a coil of an electro-magnetically operated clutch, is engaged and impulses transmitted to a count or ratchet-operating coil of an electro-magnet are effective to operate the ratchet, and when the clutch coil is de-energized, the counter is automatically reset to its starting position. The count coil and the ratchet operated thereby take the place of the synchronous or clock motor 22 of said patent for operating the timer shaft of said patent, and the switch connections in the circuit are modified as required, as will be readily.

As shown in Fig. 1, the photo-electric cell 26 i of control unit I2 is connected to the electronic tube 54, which, as here shown, is a 65.17 tube.

in an electronic-relay circuit. This tube is. biased so that it is normally non-conducting but becomes conducting under the control of photoelectric cell 25 each time a drop of liquid passes between said cell and the exciter lamp 24 and cuts off the light from said lamp to said cell. An electronic tube 66, here shown as a 6SN7 tube, has an electronic discharge system therein connected to the winding of magnetic relay 32 and is operable under the control of tube 54. The section of tube 63 which is connected to relay 32 and tube 64 is indicated at A. This section is normally conducting and energizes the winding of relay 32 so that the contacts 58 and it of said relay are normally open. When a pulse is received by tube 64, section A of tube 66 becomes non-conducting and as a result the winding of relay 32 is de-energized and contacts 68 and T0 of said relay close so that a pulse is sent to the count or ratchet-operating coil 12 of.

and L2 which receive alternating current from a suitable source, a switch 18 being in one of the leads from the supply lines to said primary winding. Tube 66 conducts current only during the positive half of the alternating current cycle,

so that a pulsating current flows through the relay circuit. Accordingly a condenser is pro-. vided to smooth the voltage across the winding of relay 32 so as to prevent it from following the frequency of the current through the tube. The section B of tube 65 constitutes a half wave rectifier for the current supplied by the transformer secondary winding 82. control provided by the adjustable resistance 84 is adjusted, by the knob 86 on control panel 80,

64. The voltage drop across this resistor acts as a bias voltage to the grid of section A of tube 66, but since voltage across this resistor is normally zero the flow of plate current in section A of tube 66 takes place so that the winding of relay 32 is normally energized as hereinbefore indicated. When light on the photo-electric cell 26 is interrupted, upon the passage of a drop of liquid across the light beam from lamp 24 to said photo-electric cell, the negative bias on the grid of the tube 64 is decreased and the plate circuit of said tube conducts current whereby the voltage drop across resistance 88 produces a negative bias across the grid-cathode of section A of tube 66, interrupting the flow of current in the plate circuit of said tube and thus de-energizing relay 32 so that contacts 68, 10 close and complete a circuit through the count or ratchet operating coil 12 as hereinbefore stated. The condenser 90 across resistance 88 charges when The sensitivity tuberfl' conducts current, a andafter said' tube is cuton the charge across condenser BI] leaks -offi' across re'sistorBB and therebymaintains the grid of'section A of tube 66 negativelybiased and'the circuit of thewinding of "relay 32- de-encrgizedfor a short period of time after light is restored. to the photo-electric cell 28.- This circuit providesea' quick charge path and a slow discharge pathfor'the condenser 90 and in this-way alight interruption of short duration'; whena drop-of liquidpasses between the'photo electric cell and the-'excitcrlamp 24; is in effect prolonged fora suiiicient lengtlrof time to enable the relay 32 The transformer secondary 92 pro to'zoperate'; videswsource of current for heating'the filaments of tubes54 and 66;

A'step-down transformer connected to' sup-- plylines Ll andLZ is provided'for' energizing:-

the exciter lamp and thewinding of' solenoid IM -which normally holds the liquid intercepting device'28 in'its retracted position as: described above.-

Supply lines Li and L2; the former having switch 96 therein, are connected to a suitable source of GO-cycle alternating current through the main manually operable switch 98"which is mounted on the control panel 60. Said control panel is also provided with an electric receptacle or plug-in socket 99 to receive-a plug terminal forisupplying the operating currentto theapparatus through said switches; The switch I69 which is normally: closed-but which is opened when'post 22 turns to itsend position at the com-- pletion of the operation of the apparatus, is also shown in. Fig. 1; i

Motor I8-is connected-directly to lineLi by- Wire I02 and to line L2 through the switch I04 ofl'the timing device or counter I6; Switch I95- hasa stationary contact I06 which is connectedtothe motor by wire Hi8, and acompanion-movable contact IIOwhich is: connected to line L2 by wire::II2; Contact IlG is engagedwith the companion contact I65 of switch iil l when the solenoid or clutch will it of the timing device coil. H4. by wire Band to oneterminal oi the count ratchet-operating coil 12 bywire H8 and by. wire I20. The other terminal of theclutch coil is connected to line'L2 by wire i722 through switch 48, said switch and the companion switch SZ-beingconnected to line .L2' bythe wire I24. The other terminal ofthe count or ratchet'operating coil- '52 is connected to the con-- tact 68of relay32 by wire I26; and, as pointed out above; When'contact 63 is engaged With-cntact 'IOJsaid other end of 'coilf12 is connected to line L2' for energizing said coil, switch I 28 -b'etween contact 70 and line L2 being closed The' timing device I6 includes a stationary contact I30 and a companion movable: contact These contacts are open wherr'theclutch' coil is de-energized and are" closed when said clutch coil is-energized, contact I32' being then moved to engage contact I30 by armature H6 of said clutch coil I I4; It will be noted that contact I30'is connected'to' one terminal of the clutch coil and that'movable' contactl32 is'con=-- nected to line L2 by wire[ I2 tocomplete a' holdingcircuit' for a said clutch coil.

The provision'forinterruptingthe' supply of-i" liquid-or other substance to the receptacles and to' terminate the operation of the apparatus; inthe event of failure or defective operation of the photo-electric relay or any other defect or failure resulting in thefailure of the timer I6 to open-- ate, or in'the event that the motor I8 does'not operate tomove the receptacle-support I0 after a predetermined rest interval of said support;- includes' time controlled switch I34; which" is-= preferably constituted by the separablecontacts of a-time-delayrelay mechanism. I3I-i,"provided in' the circuit of supply lines LI, L2; Switclr' I3A is normally closed but is opened by the timer'' of said relay: after an adjustable predetermined? length of time' exceeding the rest interval of re ceptacle support I0. It will be understood that when switchI34 is opened the circuit through" solenoid 30 is interruptedancl as a'-result the-'= liquid-intercepting device 28 is moved to itspro' jectedposition, as described above; whereby to interrupt the supply of liquid to any one of the: receptacles, thus preventingover-filling of such receptacle which might otherwise occur upon failure of the normal step movement ofrack III; The time-control means of the relay foropening-t switch-I34 includes a self-startingsynchronous motor I38; one terminal oi -which is -connected" through the normally closed contacts of over-- ride switch H243 'to line: LI- by wire 2 I42 and thee other terminal of which is connected'by wire I44 toline LZ-through the engaged contacts: I45 'an'd Hit; of section IEQA of the double-pole-doublethrow switch 253, mounted on controlpanel'fib, the wire I52 connected to'contact' 54 ofswitch- 52 and through the latter switch, which is-nor-'- mally closed at contact 54, to wire' I24 connected I to line L2. Accordingly, it will beunderstood that ii" the movable contact member of switch 52'is not disengaged from the timer contact fl at intervals corresponding to the normal operation of cam 46; timer motor 38 being energized; and if it continues to operate for a sufficient length of time predetermined accordingto thes. adjustment of the timer which includes said? motor I 38', switch operating member 'I 54-operates to open switch I36andthereby interrupts thea power circuit and'also, as a result of the-inter ruption ofthe circuit,-cuts off the supply of liquid to the receptacles on support I0 and interrupts the operation of-the apparatus. The operation of the timer which includes the'motor I38' and' the switch I34 will be more clearly understoodfrom the following description with referenceto Fig.1.

As shown. more orless diagrammatically ata :55, motor lfliloperates a shaftI56at a slow uniform speed; Said shaft carries or drives a== clutch member I53 which is arranged to releasably engage a companion clutch member which is. carried by or drives the rotaryshaftli H32 on which there is provided the member I545 which isrotatablebysaid rotary shaft'to actue' atethe'switch operating member i5 5 when motor- I liit is energized and clutch members I58 and.

45 3 are in engagement with each other. Clutch member 5581s mounted for moverncntlongitudinally of shaft 58 and. is movable by a clutchoperating lever i651 Said lever is pivoted at and is operable under the control of electromagnet I'iiJc-f' the time-delay relay, the coil of which is in parailel circuit connection with. relay motor ass; the'armature I12 of said magnet being attached to lever let-for moving the latter when the coilis energized. Whenmagnet I III is de-energized, spring I74, which is mounted about shaft I55 and connected between clutch member I58 and the stationary member I16, through which shaft I55 is slidably movable, retracts clutch member I58 from the driven clutch member I 55, and when this occurs the timer I36 is automatically re-set, i. e., actuating member I55 is returned to its original position by spring I'I3. Member I 64 is provided with part I85 which engages member I54 to open switch I34 when motor I38 has operated for the preset time thereof. Member IE4 is also provided with part I82 which engages actuating member I84 of over-ride switch I ia, after switch I34 opens, to open the motor circuit for preventing over-travel of member I64, it being noted that motor I38 is connected by wire I52 to line LI at a point between the power input and switch I34 whereby the opening of the latter switch does not open the motor circuit.

Therefore, it will be understood that if cam 45 fails to disengage contact 55 of switch 52 from contact 54 thereof, at intervais corresponding to the normal operation of cam 45, motor I33 being energized for its preset time, switch I34 is opened by member I54 to open the power circuit of the apparatus and switch I55 is then opened to prevent the continued movement of member I54. It will be noted that with both of said switches open, coil I'III is still energized, one end being connected to line LI through wire I42 which connects to the line before the break at switch I34, and the other end being connected through the engaged contacts 54 and 55 of switch 52 to line L2 whereby, despite the de-energiza-= 2 tion of motor I38 by the opening of the motor circuit at switch I 40, clutch member I55 remains in engagement with driven clutch member I55 to retain switch I34 in open condition to prevent the operation of the apparatus, the member 28 being positioned to receive fluid issuing from control device I2, as previously described.

It will be understood that any other suitable device may be used in place of the over-ride 434 is opened to prevent continued movement of member I55.

If desired, for example, where an operator is in attendance, the apparatus may be operated under the control of control device I2 and counter I5 without the use of the time-delay mechanism 55 as a protective device. In this connection, the double-pole-double-throw protective timer on-ofi switch I55, comprising the switch sections IEIBA and I5IIB, is thrown from its on position, illustrated in Fig. 1, in which position section I5IJA is closed and section I553 is open, to its 011' position, in which section 155A is open, thereby interrupting the circuit between contact 55 of switch 52 and both the motor I33 and the coil I'III of mechanism I35, and switch I 5533 is closed whereby point I85 of counter I5 is connected to line LI, at a point thereon between switch I55 and the power input source, through wire I88, closed switch I5GB and wire I42 to by-pass the connection of said point I85 to line LI through wire II 8 and also bypassing switch I34 in said line.

When it is desired to operate the apparatus under direct time, or time-elapsed, control rather than under drop-counter control, so that rack III will turn after each receptacle has remained in the material receiving station for a predetermined time to receive a charge measured by the rest intervals of rack I0, rather than to receive a charge the drops of which have been counted, mechanism I is used as a time-elapsed control device. Ganged switches I28, I8, and are moved from their count position shown in Fig. l, to time position in which the circuit between contact III of relay 32 and power line L2 is opened at switch I28, the circuit of primary 15 is opened at switch I8 to remove operating voltages from tubes 64 and 66, and the movable contact CI of switch 95 disengages stationary contact C2 and engages stationary contact C3 which is connected by wire I55 to line LI at a point between switches 98 and I34 to by-pass the latter. It will be noted that the primary winding of transformer 95 remains in the circuit for controlling solenoid 35 which operates device 28.

With switch I55 in its on position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, andwith switches I 23, III and 95 in time position, the apparatus operates as follows:

One side of rack-drive motor I3 is connected to line LI between switches 98 and I35 by wire I 92, engaged contacts CIC3 of switch 95 and wire I95, the other side of the motor being connected to line L2 by wire I58 and normally closed switch I55 of timer I5. When switch 88 is closed, motor I8 operates to turn shaft 42. When shaft 42 has turned a short distance, start switch 58 is closed momentarily by cam 55 and completes the circuit through the clutch coil lie so that said coil is energized and opens the switch I94, at the same time closing the contacts I30 and I52 providing a holding circuit for the clutch coil II 4 independently of switch 58. Although switch IE5 is opened when clutch coil H4 is thus energized, the motor continues to operate for a short time, since the circuit therethrough is held closed momentarily at the switch 52, earn closing contacts and 55 thereof which are set to engage shortly before switch 43 is actuated by cam 44 and then to disengage a moment later, allowing one revolution of shaft 42 to take place. Motor I8 then stops and remains stationary under the control of timer I35. When the motor stops, contacts 50 and 54 of switch 52 are engaged to energize motor I59 of timer I36, one end thereof being connected to line LI by wire I42, and the other end being connected to line L2 by wire I44, switch I5ilA, wire I52, switch 52 and wire I25. Motor I35 being operative, and clutch coil I'Iii being in parallel therewith for concomitant energization, timer I 36 operates according to the setting thereof to open switch I34 at the end of the set time interval, thereby opening the circuit between point I of timer I6 and the power source to cle-energize clutch coil II4, to open engaged contacts I30 and I32 and to close switch I05, said timer being automatically reset for the next operation. Upon the closing of switch I85, motor I8 begins to operate, it being noted that its connecticn through wire I02 to the power source by-passes open switch I 34 through contacts CI-C3 of switch and wire I90. The energization of motor I8 rotates shaft s2 to operate cams 54 and it, the latter momentarily operating switch 52 to engage the contacts 55 and 55, thereof. As stated above, cam 45 is set to operate switch 52 shortly before switch 48 is actuated by cam 44 and then to open contacts 58 and 55 a 1-1 rmoment later. When cam 4fioperates,:;as described, the circuit of.- motor I38 isbroken at contact 54 to reset timer 36, and tocloseswitch 134, as described. It will be understood switch Hi l closes before. cam 64 operates switch 48 so that the circuit of clutch coil Il between :point I85 and the power source is completed, vwhereby, when cam 54 operates switch 48, the clutch coil H4 isenergizedto engage contacts I and I32 to form a 'holding circuit and to .open switch I94 in the circuit of motor iii, the cycle then being repeated, as described. Therefore, it will be apparent that the rest period ..of.motor I8 is'determined by the setting of timer I35 and that the periodic operation of switch 52 by cam interrupts the motor of timer eat to reset thelatter. twill be understood that the over-ride switch does not operate when timer E35 controlsthe operation of the apparatus. Motor :8 begins to operate immediately upon the opening of switch 34 and very shortly thereafter cam 35 operates to ole-ener- "gize motor lsfi'before the over-travel'otmember I64. After all the receptacles have -been-filed and switch I98 is opened, as described, solenoid 30 is de-energized to operatexdevice 28 for interrupting the supply of liquid to the receptacles, it being noted that the periodic opening of switch I3 has no eiTect upon the solenoid since the circuit of primary '94 includes wire 43-3 which by-passes said switch.

It will be observed that the apparatus of the present invention is operableto su ply an accurately measured quantity of liquid, under the seective control of a drop-counter or a timeelapsed counter, 'to each of apredetermined large number of receptacles-without requiring the attention or presence of an attendant. Thus, for example, once the operation of the apparatus has been initiated, it may be left operating, overnight if necessary until' all of the-selected number of receptacles are supplied with liquid, at which time the operation is auto matically terminated.

While I have shown and described the ore-- ferred embodiment 'of my-invention, it will-be understood that various changes may be made in thepresent inventionwithoutdeparting from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising a device provided with a "materialdischarge outlet, container supporting :means mounted for movement :in reationxto said outlet and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in'spaced relation toposition the containers to. receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said containersupporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession'to said 'receiving'station, a motor for actuating said'movingmeans. circuit means including time-control means and material-count control meansior determining the rest period of said container-supporting means between the intermittent movements thereof, and-means for selectively 'placingsaid motor under the:control:of either one of said control means whereby-said motor is de energized for a rest period determined by the selected one of said control means.

2. Apparatus of the character described,*comprising material-discharge outlet means, container-supporting. means mounted 'f or movement :in re1ationtto 1" said outlet 1 land constructedeand arranged ,tocarrya plurality "of containerszin spaced relationtozposition the containers to receive material discharged from, said outlet,

.means ,for moving said container-supporting means .intermittently .to present said -con- -tainers in succession to said receiving statioxnra .motor for actuating said ,moving means circuit meansincluding time-elapsed controlmeans and material-count control means for determining the rest period of said container-supporting means between the intermittent .movements thereof, and means for selectively placing said motor under the control-ot-eitherone of said control means whereby said-" motor his Judeenergized for a rest period :determined :by the selected one :of said'control means.

3. Apparatus'ofthe character describedp-oomprising material-discharge outlet 211183.115, contamer-supporting means mountedior movement in relation to said; outlet and constructed-and arranged to carry -a.'plurality--of containersein spaced relation to position the containers, toreceive material discharged from said .outlet, means for moving said container-supporting -means intermittently to present said containers insuccession to said receiving station, aumotor for actuating said: r-moving means-circuit means including time-elapsed contrormeans and material-count control means for determining. the rest period of said:containeresuppor-ting.means between the intermittentmovements thereof, means for selectively .placing said'motor under the control of either of said cont-roli-means wherebysaid motor is deenergized,.-for'a"rest period determined. by .the-selected :one of said control means, and means automatically cperabladuring the control of said motorbysaid material- .count-mea-ns tointerrupt-athe supply of material Y to any one of saidreceptaclesaftertheIeceptacIe is at said position for a predetermined length :of time.

4. Apparatus of the character described, roomprising material-discharge 'zoutlet means, contamer-supporting meanswmounted formovement in relation to-said outlet :and constructed :and arranged to carry a pluralitypof-containers in spaced relation to position the containers to'receive material discharged irom'said-outlet,means for moving said container-supportingimeans 'in termittently to present said containers .in-succession to said receiving statioma motor 'for actuating" said moving means, circuihmeansrincluding time-elapsed control means .anc'hmaterial-tconnt controlmeansifor determining. the-rest periodrof said container supporting means between'tthe Tintermittent movements; thereof, means for :selectively placing said motor under-theicontrol-of either one of said control .meanswhereby. said motor is de-energized .for'a'xrestzperiod'fletermined by the *selected, one' of zsaidtcontrolimeans, and means automatically operable during "the control of said motor by said material-count means to interrupt thev supplyof material to" any one of said receptacles afterthe recepta'cle iszat said position forapredeterimned lengthtof time, saidautomatically operablemeans being operated by;.said' time-elapsed control :means aiter'a time interval longer than the rest. period 1 determined by said material-countzneans in the normaloperation of the latter.

5. Apparatus of the character'describedycomprising tmaterial-discharg outlet means, "contamer-supporting means mounted for-movement inrrelation to said outlet-'meansan'd constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in spaced relation to position the containers to receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession to said receiving station, a motor for actuating said moving means, circuit means including time-elapsed control means and material-count control means for determining the rest period of said container-supporting means between the intermittent movements thereof, means for selectively placing said motor under the control of either one of said control means whereby said motor is ole-energized for a rest period determined by the selected one of said control means, and means automatically operable during the control of said motor by said material-count means to interrupt the supply of material to any one of said receptacles after the receptacle is at said position for a predetermined length of time, said automatically operable means being operated by said time-elapsed control means after a time interval longer than the rest period determined by said material-count means in the normal operation of the latter, said selector means being operable also for selectively placing said automatically operable means under the control of said time-elapsed control means.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising material-discharge outlet means, container-supporting means mounted for movement in relation to said outlet means and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in spaced relation to position the containers to receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession to said receiving station, a motor for actuating said moving means, circuit means including time-elapsed control means and material-count control means for determining the rest period of said container-supporting means between the intermittent movements thereof, means for selectively placing said motor under the control of either one of said control means whereby said motor is de-energized for a rest period determined by the selected one of said control means, means movable from a retracted position to a projected position for intercepting the substance normally passing from said outlet to said containers, and means operable in response to a predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting means to move said substance-intercepting means from said retracted position thereof to said projected position.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising material-discharge outlet means, container-supporting means mounted for movement in relation to said outlet means and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in spaced relation to position the containers to receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession to said receiving station, a motor for actuating said moving means, circuit means including time-elapsed control means and material-count control means for determining the rest period of said container-supporting means between the intermittent movements thereof, means for selectively placing said motor under the control of either one said control eans whereby said motor is tie-energized for a rest period determined by the selected one of said control means, and means operable pursuant to a predetermined number of movements of said carrier means to terminate the operations of said motor.

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising material-discharge outlet means, contamer-supporting means mounted for movement in relation to said outlet means and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in spaced relation to position the containers to receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession to said receiving station, a motor for actuating said moving means, circuit means including time-elapsed control means and material-count control means for determining the rest period of said container-supporting means between the intermittent movements thereof, means for selectively placing said motor under the control of either one of said control means whereby said motor is de-energized for a rest period determined by the selected one of said control means, means operable pursuant to a predetermined number of movements of said carrier means to terminate the operations of said motor, means movable from a retracted position to a projected position for intercepting the substance normally passing from said outlet to said containers, and means operable in response to said predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting means to move said substance-intercepting means from said retracted position thereof to said projected position.

9. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means including a motor for moving said carrier means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station t receive a charge of material from said supply device, means operatively connected to said moving means to predetermine the number of step by step movements of said carrier means, timing means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said carrier means between the successive step movements thereof, means automatically operable to interrupt the supply of material from said supply-device to the receptacle while the latter is at said station, timing means for controlling the operation of said interrupting means, said last mentioned timing means having an operating cycle which is longer than the rest interval of said carrier means, and means to initiate said operating cycle at the start of the rest interval whereby said last mentioned timing means is effective to operate said interrupting means only after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said first mentioned timing means in the normal operation of the latter.

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising a movable control device carrying a lamp, a companion photo-electric cell, and a vertical passage across the path of light from said lamp to said cell, container-supporting means mounted for movement in relation to the outlet of said passage and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in each of a plurality of laterally related rows extending in the direction of movement of the container-supporting means, said control device being movable from a posi- :tion in avhichz the :outlet of said-passage is inverticalalignment with one of said rows to a position in which said outlet is in vertical alignment withanother of said rows, a, relay operable under -the control of said cell, means including a motor .operable under the control of said rela in re- ;sponse to the passage of a substance through said passage for moving said container-supporting :means intermittently to present said containers of each row. in succession in position to receive :a quantity of liquid from said outlet, means for moving said controldevice from said one position thereof to said other position thereof, and means operable under the control of said first men- .tioned moving means to actuate said last men- ;tioned moving means for moving said control device to other position thereof after a predetermined number of movements of said .contamer-supporting means and means automatiica-lly operable to interrupt the supply of material toany one of said receptacles, and timing means for controlling the operation of, said interrupting 'means, said timing means operating said inter- .rupting means after the receptacle is at said .position for a predetermined length of time.

11. Apparatus of the character described comprising a movable control device carrying a lamp, a companion photo-electric cell, and a vertical passage across the path of light from said lamp to said cell, container-supporting mean mount- .ed for movement in relation to the outlet of said passage and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality. of containers in each of a plurality of laterally related rows extending in the direction votmovementof the container-supporting means, .-said control device being movable from a position in which the outlet of said passage is in verticalalig-nmentwith one of said rows to a position in which said outlet is in vertical alignment with another of said rows, a relay operable under .the control of said cell, means including a motor .operable under the control of said relay in ressponseto the passage of a substance through said passage for moving said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers of each row in succession in position to receive a quantity of liquid from said outlet, means for movingsaidcontrol device from said one position thereof to said other position thereof, means operable under the control of said first mentioned ..moving means to actuate said last mentioned vmoving means for moving said control device to said other position thereof after a predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting means, substance-receiving means movable from a retracted position to a projected position ,for intercepting the substance normally passing from said outlet tolsaid containers, time-controlled means and means automatically operable in response to said time-controlled means to move said substance-receiving means from said retracted position thereof to said projected position, said automatically operable means being also operable in response to a predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting -means to move said substance-receiving mneans from said retracted position thereof to said projected position.

12. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable means for supporting a plurality ofreceptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the supporting means, means'for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means for moving said supportingmeans step by step to 16 carry-said receptacles in succession: tov sa d-3 tionto receive a charge of materialfrom said supply device, a motor for; actuating saidmoving means, means operatively connectedlt-o' said moving means to predetermine.thenumberof step-by-step movements of said supporting means, timing means for controlling theoperations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said supporting means between the successive step movements thereof, means for interrupting thepassageof material to the receptacles, means-for actuating said last mentionedmeans, a timer motor operable under the control of the operationssof said first-mentioned motor, and switching means VOD- erable under the control of said timer motor-for controlling the operation of said last-mentioned actuating means.

13. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable means for supporting a. plurality of receptacles in a row extending in th81di' rection of movement of the supporting means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means for moving said supporting means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, a. motor for actuating saidrmoving means, means operatively connected tosaid moving mean to predetermine the numberof step-by-step movements of said supporting means, timing means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said supporting means between the successive step-movements thereof, mean for interrupting thepassage of material to the receptacles, means foractuating said last mentioned means, a timer motor operable under the control of the operations of said first-mentioned motor, and switching means operable under the control of said timer motor for controlling the operation of said last-mentioned actuating means and for interrupting the first motor circuit after a predetermined intervalof time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said first-mentioned timing means in the normal operation thereof.

14. Apparatus of the character described,

comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a materialesupply ,devicein position at a receptacle-charging station, means including a motor for moving said carrier means step by steplto carry said receptacles in succession tov said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, means operatively connected to said ..moving means to predetermine the number ,of step by step movements of said carrier means, timeelapsed means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predeterminethe duration of rest intervals of said carrier means between successive step movements thereof, means movable from a retracted position to a projected position for intercepting the substance normally passing from said device to said containers, and

vmeans operable in response to a predetermined number of movements of said containers-supporting means to move said substance-intercepting means, from said retracted position thereof to said projected position.

15. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable carrier means for supportinga plurality of. receptacles in a rowextending 17 in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means including a motor for moving said carrier means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge cf material from said supply device, means operatively connected to said moving means to predetermine the number of step by step movements of said carrier means, timeelapsed means for controlling the operation of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said carrier means between successive step movements thereof, means operable pursuant to a predetermined number of step movements of said carrier means to terminate the operations of said motor, means movable from a retracted position to a projected position for intercepting the substance normally passing from said device to said containers, and I means operable in response to said predetermined number of movements of said containersupporting means to move said substance-intercepting means from said retracted position thereof to said projected position.

16. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means including a motor for moving said carrier means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, timing means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said carrier means between suc cessive step movements thereof, and time-controlled means including means automatically operable to interrupt the supply of material from said supply-device to the receptacle in position at said station, and means to operate said timecontrolled means only after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said timing means in the normal operation of the latter.

1'7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means including a motor for moving said carrier means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, timing means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said carrier means between successive step movements thereof, time-controlled means including means automatically operable to interrupt the supply of material from said supply-device to the receptacle in position at said station, and means to operate said time-controlled means only after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said timing means in the normal operation of the latter, and switching means for selectively energizing said time-controlled means whereby said apparatus is operable under the control of said timing means with or without said time-controlled means for interrupting the supply of material to the receptacle.

18. Apparatus of the character described,

18 comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station,

means including a motor for moving said carrier means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, timing means including control means responsive to the passage of material from said device, counter means operable by said control means and a plurality of switches plus a counter switch for controlling the motor circuit whereby to control the operations of said motor to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said supporting means between the successive step movements thereof, a timer motor operable under the control of said plurality of switches, switching means operable under the control of said timer motor for interrupting one side of said first motor circuit and for de-energizing said counter to complete the other side of said first motor circuit through said counter switch after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said first mentioned timing means in the normal operation thereof, and selectively operable means for de-energizing said first mentioned control means and for by-passing said switching means for removing the latter from said first motor circuit whereby, the time interval, after which said timer motor operates said switching means to de-energize said counter to complete said first motor circuit, will determine the duration of said rest intervals.

19. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means including a motor for moving said carrier means rupt the supply of material from said supplydevice to the receptacle while the latter is at said station, timing means for controlling the operation of said interrupting means, said last mentioned timing means operating said interrupting means only after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said first mentioned timing means in the normal operation of the latter, and means operable pursuant to a predetermined number of step movements of said carrier means to terminate the operations of said motor.

20. Apparatus of the character described, com

prising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means for moving said carrier means step by step to; carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, means including a motor operatively connected to said moving means to pre- 7 acme-r1 determine the number of stepl-by-step movements of said carrier means, switching means foricontrolling the circuit of said motor; timing means operable in conjunction with said switching means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration. of rest intervals of said carrier means between the successive step .movements thereof, means automatically operable to interrupt the supply of material from said supply-device to the receptacle while: the latter is at said station, and timing means for controlling the operation of said interrupting means, said last-mentioned timing means being operable under'the control of said switching means after a predetermined interval of time. which is longer than .the rest interval determinedby said first mentioned timing means in the normal operation of'the latter.

21. Apparatus of thecharactendescribed, comprising a movableldevice having a material sup-' plypassage, carrier means .for. supporting aplurality of receptacles in a,..p1urality of. laterally related rows, means for movingsaid .carrierineans in relation to. the outletuofsaid passage for presenting the receptacles .in succession. at a-position tobe supplied withmaterialissuing .from said outlet, means operableautomatically-in response to a predetermined movement of. said carrier means for movingsaid movabledevicelaterally of said receptacle rows, whereby to position said device. in material-supplying relation to the receptaclesbf. one.of .said rows. following the supply. ofmaterial to .the receptacles of another of said roivs,.means..automatically. .operableto interruptthe supply .of. materialtoany .one of said receptacles.andtiminglneans for controlling :the operation of. said interrupting. means; said timing. -means operatingssaid interrupting .means after. the. receptacleds .atsaid. position for. apredetermined-lengthof..time.

1 22- Apparatusv of, the character. described, comprising. amovable. device having. a. material supplypassage, carrier means for supporting a plurality .of. receptaclesin a plura1ity.. of ilaterally related rows, means formovingsaid carrier means in. relation. .to .the. outlet. .of said. passage. for presentinglthe receptaclesin successionat a. position. tolbe supplied .it'ith .material issuingirom said outle't,.means operabIeautomaticaIlyI in response to. a. predetermined movement. ofsaid carrienmeans for moving said. movablel device-laterallyof. said receptacle rows, wherebyto position said Ldevicein materialrsupplying. relation to..the receptaolesof. one of said rows following the supply. of. material. .to the receptaclesof -.another of said rows,.. indexing means associated with .said firstmentionedmoving means andwith said other movinglmeansior predetermindthe extent of movement of: said. carrier means required-before said otherl movingnmeanspisw actuated. means automatically operablemto. interrupt. thesupply of .materialsto any. one. of. said receptacles, and timing means for. controllingstheoperation. of said .interrupting...means,,said timing. means operating said interrupting means aftenthe recep-..

tacle is atsaid position for. a predeterminedlength oftime.

123. Apparatus of thacharactei: described comprising a movable control device carrying. alamp, a. companion, photo-electric. cell, and a vertical passageaacrossithepath oi lightiromsaidlamp tosaidcell, container-supporting .means mounted for... movement. in relation. -.to. .the outlet. .oflsaid passage .and constructed and arranged. .to.. carry a plurality of containers in each of a plurality of laterally. related rows extending in the direction of movement ofthe. container-supporting means, said control device being movable from a position in which :theoutlet of, said passage is in vertical alignment with one of :said rows to a position in whichxsaid outletis in vertical alignment with another of said rows,.a relay operable under the control or said cell, means including a, motor operable under the controlof said relay in response to thepa'ssage of a substance through said passage for moving said container-supporting means intermittently .to present said containers of each row in succession imposition to receive a quantity of liquid from said outlet, means for moving said means for moving said controldevice to said other position thereof after a predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting means, means operable in response to a predetermined number ofmovements or said container-supporting means to discontinue. the operation of said moving means therefor, meansautomatically operable to interrupt "the supply of.material to any one of saidjreceptacles. and timing means for controlling: the. operationof said interrupting means, said timing means. operating said interrupting means after. the receptableis at said position for a, predetermined length of. time.

24. Apparatus of the character. described comprisinga movable controldeyice carrying a lamp, a companion photo-electric. cell, and a vertical passage across the pathcoi light from said lamp to said 0e11, containerrsupportinglmeans mounted for movement in' relation .to. the outlet, of said passage. and constructed andarranged \to .carry a plurality ofcontainers .in eachofa plurality of laterally. related rows. extending in.the direction. of .movement; of. the container-supporting means, said control devicebeingmovable from a position in which .the outlet. of said passage. is in vertical alignment with one .oi-said rows to a position in which said outlet is in vertical alignment with another of said rows,.a relay operable under the control of said cell, means including a motor operable under the control of said relay in response .to the passage of a substance-through said passage tor moving. said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers of each rowlin succession in position to receive a quantity. of. liquid. from.s'aid-outlet, means for moving said .controldevice fromsaid one position thereof to said other position thereof, means operableunderthecontrol of said first mentioned moving means. to actuate said last mentioned moving. means. for moving said-control device to said otlmr position'fthereof aftenapredetermined number. of movements of. said container-supporting .means, substance-receiving means movable from .a retracted position to. a projected position for. intercepting; .the substance normally passing from. said. outlet.to..;sa.id-containers, time-controlled means,=meansoperable-in response to said time-controlledmeans to move said substancereceivingsmeansi from. said. retracted position thereof to. said. projected position.

'25.. Apparatus. of the character described com- Drisinga.controldevicacarrying .alamp, a companionphotorelectric celLand .a verticalpassage acrosswthepa'thmi.light. from: said lamp. .to. said cell, container-supporting means. mounted 'for -movementin relation. to the outlet-of said p 21- plurality of containers in a row extending in the direction of movement of the container-supporting means, a relay operable under the control of said cell, means including a motor operable under the control of said relay in response to the passage -of a, substance through said passage for moving said container-supporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession in position to receive a quantity of substance from said outlet, means movable from a retracted position to a projected position for intercepting the substance normally passing from said outlet to said containers, means for actuating said intercepting means, means operable in response to a predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting means to move said substanceintercepting means from said retracted position thereof to said projected position, means operable in response to a predetermined number of movements of said container-supporting means to discontinue the operation of said moving means therefor, and means including a switch in cirsuit with said actuating means and with said motor, and a timer for actuating said switch to interrupt the motor circuit and to operate said actuating means to cause said substance-intercepting means to move to said projected position thereof when the rest interval of any one of said containers at said substance-receiving position thereof exceeds a predetermined length of time.

26. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable carrier means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the carrier means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means for moving said carrier means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, a motor for actuating said moving means. means operatively connected to said moving means to predetermine the number of step-bystep movements of said supporting means, timing means for controlling the operations of said motor whereby to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said supporting means between the successive step movement thereof, means for interrupting the passage of material to the receptacle, means for actuating said last mentioned means, and time-controlled switching means for controlling the operation of said last mentioned actuating means.

27. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the supporting means, means for mounting a material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means for moving said supporting means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, a motor for actuating said moving means, means operatively connected to said moving means to predetermine the number of stepby-step movements of said supporting means, timing means including a plurality of switches for controlling the motor circuit whereby to control the operations of said motor to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said supporting means between the successive step movements thereof, means for interrupting the passage of material to the receptacle, means for actuating said last-mentioned means, a timer motor operable under the control of one of said switches, and switching means operable under the control of said timer motor for controlling the operation of said last-mentioned actuating means whereby to interrupt the passage of material to the receptacle after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said first-mentioned timing means in the normal operation thereof.

28. Apparatus of the character described, comprising movable means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in a row extending in the direction of movement of the supporting means, means for mounting the material-supply device in position at a receptacle-charging station, means for moving said supporting means step by step to carry said receptacles in succession to said station to receive a charge of material from said supply device, a motor for actuating said moving means, means operatively connected to said moving means to predetermine the numberv of stepby-step movements of said supporting means, timing means including a plurality of switches for controlling the motor circuit whereby to control the operations of said motor to predetermine the duration of rest intervals of said supporting means between the successive step movements thereof, means for interrupting the passage of material to the receptacle, means for actuating said last-mentioned means, a timer motor operable under the control of one of said switches, and switching means operable under the control of said timer motor for controlling the operation of said last-mentioned actuating means and for interrupting the first motor circuit after a predetermined interval of time which is longer than the rest interval determined by said first mentioned timing means in the normal operation thereof.

29. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a device provided with a material-discharge outlet, container-supporting means mounted for movement in relation to said outlet and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in spaced relation to position the containers to receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said containersupporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession to said receiving station, a motor for actuating said moving means, timecontrol means and material-count control means for determining the rest period of said containersupporting means between the intermittent movements thereof, means for selectively placing said motor under the control of either one of said control means whereby said motor is deenergized for a rest period determined by the selected one of said control means, and switching means in circuit with each of said control means, each of said switching means being operable at the termination of each intermittent movement of said container-supporting means for energizing its associated control means to initiate said rest period.

30. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a device provided with a material-discharge outlet, container-supporting means mounted for movement in relation to said outlet and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers in spaced relation to position the containers to receive material discharged from said outlet, means for moving said containersupporting means intermittently to present said containers in succession to said receiving station, a motor for actuating said moving means, timedelay timing means and material-count timing means releasably connected together for controllinglsaid motor I for determining ,lthe rest period !of x.saidwcontainerrsupp0rting. means between the inter'mittent..niov,ements.thereof,a and means operat'ivelyocbnnectingsaid timing means and said motorfor selectively placing. said motor under the control of eitherffloneof .said timin means, whereby saitlimotori isjileenergized for a rest. periodrdetermined by the selected .oneof said. timing means.

31. Apparatus. of the character described, comprising a sd eviceprovidedewith amaterial-discharge outlet, container-supporting means mounted vfor movement in relation .to :said outlet and constructed and arranged to carry a plurality of containers-in spaced relation to position the containers toreceive materialdischar ed from said i outlet," means: for 'rmovingwsaid' containersupponting' means: intermittently to present .said

-24 containersin sncnession .to said receiving station, amotor. for actuating.saidimovin means. circuit means. includin time-delay timing means and material-count.timingQmeans fordetermining the rest period of said container-supportingmeans betweenthe. intermittent movements thereof and meansadditionally includedin said circuit means for selectively placing said motor under the control of either onevof .said timingmeans, whereby saiclmotor .is-de-energized for a rest period ,determined by the selected vone ,of said timingmeans.

GEORGE GORI-IAM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED 4, STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,101,568 1-Roberts June 30, 1914 2,523,517 [Potter Sept. 26; 1950 

